Mike D'Antoni Gets Real On James Harden's Iso-Plays: "Aesthetically, It's Not Good"

"If I didn’t have a team that had James Harden, guess what! We’d pass the ball around," the former Rockets coach explained.

Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Former Houston Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni explained James Harden's iso plays and why the side leaned more into isolation moments during the duo's era.

Speaking on 'Thinking Basketball,' "People don’t like it, aesthetically it’s not good," D'Antoni shed light on the guard's iso plays. "I don’t love it, I’d rather pass the ball around. And if I didn’t have a team that had James Harden, guess what! We’d pass the ball around… You got James Harden, imma make him the best player he could possibly be."

With defenses adapting to play the likes of Harden differently, the challenge for D'Antoni was to ensure that the offense remained free-flowing and that Harden would get optimal opportunities to score. It wasn't pretty, but it was surely efficient.

The former Rockets coach is widely regarded as one of the best strategic and analytical coaches to have been in the sport. It's unfortunate that he's never won a championship as a coach.

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Can Mike D'Antoni Make A Difference With The New Orleans Pelicans?

After his stint with the Rockets, D'Antoni served as an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets during the 2020-21 season. Now, he serves as the coaching advisor for the New Orleans Pelicans.

His rich coaching resume makes him a valuable member of her Pelicans unit, and with the team filled with talent in the form of Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, D'Antoni's strategic planning has surely played its part in the brilliant start the team had to the season before injuries to their star players derailed their campaign.

The Pelicans sit 12th in the West with a 31-34 record and will look to sneak into the postseason, especially after their impressive run in the initial stages of the tournament.

On the other hand, Harden has been a force for the Philadelphia 76ers this season and is well on his way to winning his maiden title with the side. It remains to be seen how both parties go from this point.

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